Life, when you are starting out, sucks and it has since the world began.
I know what I went through was nothing compared to what my parents when through when they started out. My dad is not smiling in the early pictures because he had bad teeth from malnutrition in childhood. At least when I hit the world I had a good set of chompers to eat my raman with a scoop of peanut butter.
But the idea of budgeting, not buying things on credit and getting your entertainment for free rather then paying big bucks for it is often dismissed with scorn. They "own nothing" but they are not happy.
We saved enough for a down payment on a house that would cost just slightly more in payments than the apartment. We were VERY happy to get a 13.6% first time home buyer's loan in Texas. The norm was north of 16% interest.
Somehow they squeezed three bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths into that little 986 square foot one car garage house. The space was less than our bedroom wing is now.
I managed to remodel and do a lot of repairs. We made 50% on that house, moved, bought another one and did the same thing. In not too long we were out of debt and started saving for the third house, had it built and paid cash for it. That was 40 years ago. We have never had a debt since. I've managed to always have good work and we have always lived below our means but comfortably. We have far too many things now.
We have never been on a cruise. We have taken some nice trips. My work has taken me around the world and I am happy with that since I would not want to go now. My wife has not been neglected since she has no interest in such things.
I began life after school with $500 and all I owned in the front seat and tool box of my pickup. We paid for our wedding and took care of ourselves. I wild not say it has been easy or hard. It has been just life. I am sure there are millions of people who have similar stories.